NJ Transit bus catches fire along Route 9 in Old Bridge

Jennifer Brown/The Star-LedgerA file photo of a New Jersey Transit bus. Twenty-eight passengers were removed from a bus this morning in Old Bridge after the driver noticed smoke coming from near a rear right tire.

OLD BRIDGE — Officials are trying to determine what caused a fire aboard a New Jersey Transit bus that was taking passengers from Lakewood to the Port Authority Bus terminal.

NJ Transit spokesman John Durso Jr. says bus 132 was on Route 9 in Old Bridge this morning when the driver noticed smoke coming from near the tire in the right rear section.

Durso says the driver safely evacuated 28 passengers. They were put on another bus.